Tank and the like



Oct. 25, 1938. A TEN 2,134,651-

' f v TANK 'ANDy THE LIKE Filed July 18, 1955 INVEN-roR THQPE /77' /l/ ATTORNEY cocon Patented oef. 25, 193s TANK AND THE LIKE Theodore Aten, Floral Park, N. Y., assigner to Aten Sewage Disposal Co., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 18, 1936, Serial No. 91,414

4 y Claims.

tank for functioning in a sewage disposal system, Y

whereinI utilize a form of reticulated material,

which is entered `in a suitable excavation and serves the dual `purposeof a mold and a reinforcement for the concrete that constitutes the wall of the tank.

.'15 The form `of reticulated material is usually annular in shape and because of its woven construction-it will be obvious that without the provision of internal bracing or supporting means it would becomefdistorted under the load of the imping- `,20 ing concrete and a faultyor unsatisfactory construction would result. y

Heretofore, it has been the practice, as disclosed in` my `aforesaid Letters Patent to utilize flat metal hoops or bands, which were urged into r.25 position in vertically spaced relationship within the erected form or moldas bracing or supporting media, these bands or hoops, of course, remaining in the mold and being embedded in the concrete as a component of the wall formed However, in many instances, diicultyis experienced in properly locating these bracing bands within the combination mold and reinforcing element, because of the fact that they are .35 pre-fabricated to size or diameter. In consequence, where the wall of the excavation is not a true circle, o-r is not entirely free of protruding 4withthe design of theassembly. Obviously, to l obtain the4 maximum eiciency in the performance ofits intended function, the band shculdbe (.50 `horizontally]disposed, with its external surface in` nat bearingfcontact with the reticulated malterial, throughout its area.V Again, the pre-sized .flat stock bands, can only be used in A'structures 4forwhich they are expressly fabricated, making m `,itinecessary for. the builder to Imaintain a' relatively large supply of bands of various diameters, to meet different installation requirements.

Further, in the structure of my aforesaid Letters Patent, I employ a cap ofA a truncated conical shape, which is composed of segments of sheet 5. metal riveted or bolted together. A flanged collar, adapted to serve as a man-hole to affordaccess to the interior of the tank, is bolted to these segments, the cap, which is superposed upon the mold or form, being surmounted by conforming 10 concrete to the level of the top of the man-hole opening. Manifestly, the load of this concrete, especially during the pouring and setting stages, makes it necessary to use relatively heavy guage metal for the formation of the cap, in order to 15 prevent sagging or distortion and possible separation of the jontures of the segments.

Therefore, the primary object of this invention is to improve the'method and means utilized in my laforesaid Letters Patent for constructing sewage disposal systems and especially septic tanks, functioning as units thereof, whereby-production and installation may be facilitated, with a concomitant reduction in material and labor costs. p 25 More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provideV means for bracing or supporting the internal mold or form of a septic tank,'produced in conformity with the invention of my said Letters Patent, whereby the necessity for pre-fabrication will be eliminated, the said means being so constituted that they may be expeditionrsly adapted for installation -in forms or molds of different sizes or diameters, at the point of 1nstallation or elsewhere, with the attendant economic advantages. e

Another object of my invention is to provide bracing or supporting media for the form or mold, as aforesaid, which-are adjustable to a degrec that will permit them to be entered into a 40 form or mold and located in that position where they will function at a maximum of efciency, irrespective of the fact that the form or mold may-be distorted at one or more points because of pressure of protuberant surfaces of the exca- Vation wall in -which it is erected.

yIt is also an objectof my inventionto provide a capA for association Withthe form or mold, in the erection Yo f a tank, .corresponding tothat vof my earlier disc1osure,which may be produced of 50 a metal of lighter gauge than heretofore, with a consequent saving in material costs, and which at the same time` will possess the requisite rigidity to resistbending and other detrimental forces imposed thereon by the load of the Vconcrete which covers the cap and adjacent to its periphery is of a considerable depth or thickness.

Other objects and advantages flowing from the practicing of my invention will become evident as the description proceeds, and I would have it clearly understood that I reserve unto myself all rights to the full range of equivalents, both in structure and in use, to which I may be entitled, under my invention in its broadest aspect.

In the accompanying drawing, I have elected to illustrate certain preferred embodiments o-f my invention. However, as will be manifest from my disclosure, my invention may take other forms, within the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a so-called septic tank of the type generally described in my aforesaid Letters Patent, in which the improvements to which the present invention is directed, are embodied.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the structure shown in the preceding figure, showing the irnproved form of cap.

Figure 3 is a plan view of one of the internal bracing elements, that is entered in the mold of reticulated material.

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of the connector utilized in the assembly of the bracing element.

Figure 5 is a similar view of a modified form of connector.

Figure 6 is a view in perspective of a wedge or device for association with the connector of Figure 5, that is adapted to function as a spacer of the alined ends of the bracing element when entered in the connector, and

Figure 7 is a sectional elevation of a battery of tanks embodying my invention.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, in which like characters of reference are employed to designate similar parts in the several views 'I indicates the wall of the excavation, in which the form or mold of reticulated material, as shown at 8, is entered. This form or mold, which also functions as a reinforcement, as will be apparent, is annular in shape and of a diameter smaller than that of the excavation in which it is entered, and, preferably, is strengthened against bending forces by the provision of appropriately circumferentially spaced vertical members 9. The vertical edges of the form or mold are overlapped and joined in any suitable manner, as by bolts I0, passed through mating interstices.

As in the invention of my aforesaid Letters Patent, a suitable mixture of concrete is poured into the cavity 'l which will be retained between the wall of said cavity and the form 8, it being manifest that there will be a suicient seepage of the concrete mixture through the mesh of the mold to provide a coating on the inner face thereof, so that the mold becomes embedded in the concrete and functions as a reinforcement therefor.

Obviously, when the concrete is poured into the cavity, externally of the mold, considerable pressure is exerted upon the wire mesh and to prevent inward bending or buckling, bracing media which can be readily conformed to the shape of the interior of the mold are essential to economical installation and the production of an eiiicient construction. To this end, I employ bands or rings composed .of sections of preferably round metallic stock, each approximately semicircular in contour, the matable ends of which are adjustably connected to form the complete band. By providing for relative adjustment of the sections, it will be evident that the bands may be readily urged into position past such obstructions as may be presented by the wall of the excavation or by the distortion of the mold itself, as a result of the obstructions or from other causes.

As shown, the sections I I and I2 of these bands are assembled by alining and entering their ends in the sleeves I3 and I4, which are located diametrically opposite in the band or ring thus formed. In some instances, this may be done externally of the mold, the rings then being inserted therein and urged into the position which they are to assume in the completed structure, it being obvious that the spacing of the ends of the band sections within the sleeves will allow a ring to contract sufficiently to clear any obstructions which may be presented by the wall of the excavation or the mold and thereby expedite its final disposition in functioning position, the ring, if required, being then expanded within the sleeves for frictional circumferential engagement with the mold or reinforcement, preparatory to the concrete pouring operation. Where assembly of the rings within the mold is desirable, the sections of each ring may be inserted in the sleeves, the ring being canted from the horizontal to facilitate the assembling process and then pressed into the appropriate position in engagement with the wall of the mold.

As will be observed, the modified iorm of sleeve or connector shown in Figure 5 is provided with a slot I5 to receive the Wedge I6 illustrated 1n Figure 6, it being apparent that when the ends of the ring sections are located within the sleeve they may be appropriately spaced therein to produce a ring of the requisite diameter, by entering the wedge therebetween and ldriving it downwardly, the tapering sides I6a of the wedge permitting a relatively wide range of adjustability of the ring sections.

Following the erection of the tank embodying the mold and its bracing members, all of which are, of course, embedded in the concrete, a crown or head-piece is mounted upon it. This unit, preferably, is composed of segments of sheet metal, as indicated at I1, usually four in number, the edges of which are overlapped and bolted, as at I8 to form a frustro-conical member. The lower edge of the crown-piece is provided with circumferentially spaced lugs I8a formed by slitting the metal and bending the lug-forming pieces inwardly. When the crown-piece is poised upon the wire mesh mold, these lugs are approximately vertical and abut against the inner surface of the mold for bolting thereto, as at I 9. At its upper end, the crown-piece is provided with a collar 20 having an outwardly and downwardly sloping flange 20a attachable to the crown-piece by the bolts 2|, the collar, as will be noted, embodying a flange 22 which forms a seat for the man-hole cover 23.

When the crown-piece has been fixed' in position, it is surmounted by concrete, poured to the level of the top of the man-hole-forming collar 20. Obviously, this concrete imposes a considerable load upon the crown-piece, which, in the past, has made it necessary to employ relatively heavy gauge material in its fabrication. To overcome this disadantage and reduce construction costs, I now form each segment with a plurality of radial ribs 24 which permits of the -utilization L to variation within the scope of this disclosure to.

meet different construction and usage requirements. For instance, the ring sections may be of twisted or square stock and each ring may be made up of more than two sections. Also, the sleeves may take otherl shapes, as may the wedges or the spacing of the ends of the ring-forming sections may be accomplished by providing them with threads adapted to mesh with complemental threads in the sleeves or connectors.

I claim:

1. A subterranean tank or the like having a concrete wall of an annular contour, a wire mesh reinforcing element embedded therein, annular bracing media associated with the interior of said element in relatively vertically spaced relation, said bracing media comprising rings of non-yieldable material composed of sections, sleeves adapted to embrace the ends of alined sections to form a complete ring thereof, said sections being slidable Within said sleeves for relative adjustment to eiect diameter variations in a ring and a crown-piece, embodying a manhole, surmounting said element, said crown-piece being composed of a plurality of segments, each segment being formed With a series of radially disposed reinforcing ribs extending from the head of said crown-piece to the base thereof.

2. A knock-down mold and reinforcement for subterranean Ytanks and the like, comprising a flat reticulated material, adapted to be formed into an annular mold-wall and concrete reinforcing element, and means locatable therein to maintain its annular contour in opposition to oppositely applied pressure, said means includwithin said mold, said ring sections and said embracing means being slidable relatively to each other, for varyingthe diameter of the ring to facilitate its location in functioning position.

3. A knock-down mold and reinforcement for subterranean tanks and the like, Vcomprising a reticulated material adapted to be formed into an annular mold-wall and concrete reinforcing element, and means locatable therewithin to maintain the annular contour thereof under oppositely applied pressure, said means including a plurality of vertically spaced rings, each composed of tWo arcuate sections connectable to form the ring, and sleeves for embracing the alined juxtaposed ends of said sections at diametrically opposite stations, in which said sections are insertable, said sections and said sleeves being relatively slidable, for permitting bodily movement of one or both sections in response to lateral pressures thereagainst, for varying the diameter of the ring, to compensate for irregularities in the mold-wall diameter, in the installation of the ring in functioning position Within the mold.

4. A knock-down mold and reinforcement for tanks and the like, comprising a reticulated material adapted to be formed into an annular mold-wall and concrete reinforcing element, and means locatable Within said material to maintain its annular contour under counter pressure, said means including a plurality of vertically spaced rings, each being composed of two arcuate sections and sleeves in which the alined ends of said sections are insertable for the formation of the ring, said sleeves being disposed at diametrically opposite stations on the ring, the sleeves and the sections being relatively slidable, for permitting bodily movement of one or both sections in response to lateral pressure, for varying the diameter of the ring during its location in functioning position, a tapered slot in each of said sleeves and a Wedge adapted to be entered in such slot to urge the ends of the ring-forming sections apart and maintain thesections immovable against lateral pressures.

THEODORE ATEN. 

